It’s been 18 days since Oregon State’s 17-point loss in the Civil War game, a numbing defeat that cost the Beavers a fifth straight bowl trip and sent at least one beat writer to Providence Hospital in Portland (long story).

OSU coach Mike Riley

You know things are bad when the only good news out of Corvallis in the wake of BCS championship game-bound Oregon’s victory was that OSU students were not involved in stealing Lee Corso’s head, or attempting to set the Reser Stadium turf on fire.

While there is no question the pre-season success of new women’s coach Scott Rueck has been a feel good story, it does not make up for the angst over what happened to the football team.

Combine that with a slow start by Craig Robinson’s basketball team, which much like the football team has some defensive issues to iron out, and there aren’t enough lumps of coal to go around as Beaver Nation contemplates the Holidays and the current state of the school’s two major sports.

And if you really, truly love Oregon State athletics and have an abiding dislike for all things Oregon, the current 24-7 media blitz surrounding the Ducks’ charge to the BCS title game in Glendale has either given you a splitting headache, or a sudden urge to jam a No. 2 pencil in your ear.

Having been off my medication for nearly a week, eyeballs bulging from watching “It’s a Wonderful Life’’ and “Miracle on 34th Street’’ and “White Christmas’’ re-runs over and over (where are my “Walking Dead’’ re-runs?) I think it’s time to get back to football.

Because the wounds are still fresh from OSU’s worst season since 2005, cyberspace is not a safe place to be for coaches, players (is the O-line under the Witness Protection Program?), administrators, and that loyal band of Beavers’ fans who refuse to believe the sky is falling even though the 40-year-old guy with the laptop in his mom’s basement is shouting it from the rooftops, or announcing it on Twitter.

For the benefit of coach Riley and a staff that hit the recruiting trail after the CW, I’ve collected some of the message board reaction (and some suggestions) to what happened 18 days ago – hell, to what happened much of the season – and we offer it as a public service, with our own commentary attached.

We’ll address other issues in the coming days, including the state of the roster, where recruiting seems to be going, the impact of losing nine starters and a kicker (Linnenkohl, Camp, Nichols, Miller, Paea, Pankey, Roberson, Dockery, Tuimaunei, Kahut), and how it looks for 2011 as we move into January.

While there is every indication from star tailback Jacquizz Rodgers that he isn’t declaring for the 2011 NFL draft and will be returning for his senior year – ostensibly to join his brother James, who will receive a medical hardship year if he wants it – there remains that little glimmer of doubt. … we have people on our own staff who are convinced Quizz will go pro before the Jan. 15 deadline.

I guess that’s what made me jump out of my chair last night when I saw “RODGERS’’ on the ESPN crawl during that horrendous Louisville-Southern Miss. Game. … false alarm, it was about Green Bay QB Aaron Rodgers returning to practice.

Riley and UO coach Chip Kelly: Oregon State's disappointing 5-7 season looks much worse in the face of the spectacular success at Oregon

Given that there are serious questions about OSU football in 2011 even with BOTH Rodgers brothers returning (the O-line, the defense, should Philipp move to G, should Hardin move to S, etc.), imagine the mood around the Valley Center if Quizz side-stepped to the NFL and James wasn’t able to come back from that awful knee injury suffered Oct. 9 at Arizona?

Here is a small sampling of how fans vented about OSU football (and what they would like to see) after the Civil War loss.

Trust me, the media vented some, too. Personally, I can’t believe this team couldn’t get six wins, even without J Rod. … those losses to UW and UCLA were inexcusable and holy smokes, imagine what just one more win would have done. If OSU is in the Holiday Bowl, playing Nebraska, the perception of where this program is headed – and what might happen with the Rodgers brothers - changes dramatically.

Fans say …

2010 was a huge letdownComment: Tell me about it.

OSU football is in a “death spiral’’Comment: Way, way over the top. Not even close to being the truth

Program “headed in wrong direction’’ under RileyComment: We will find out. Major improvement needed in 2011

Going for FGs instead of TDs in Civil War a colossal mistakeComment: I didn’t like it, either

Quizz will go pro because of horrible O-lineComment: Don’t think so. But I wouldn’t bet my house on it

That was worst O-line in the Pac-10Comment: There were some bad games, but the worst? I don’t think so

OSU needs to bring in JC O-linemen and start overComment: Won’t happen. But Cav ain’t gonna put up with another 2010 scenario

The in-game coaching and play-calling was not goodComment: When you’re 5-7, even the head coach would agree with this. To a point

Offensive coordinator Danny Langsdorf should be firedComment: Not going to happen. Riley would not put blame on one guy

Mike Riley should be firedComment: Riley could go 0-12 next season and still be safe in 2012. Isn't this the same coach who could have replaced Pete Carroll at USC a year ago?